By MOFFAT CHAZINGWA –
Government has spent more than US$8 billion on infrastructure development, which has translated into massive transformation of the country.
Chief Government spokesperson Chishimba Kambwili said Zambia had construction sites in all parts of the country because of the robust infrastructure development projects.
Mr Kambwili, who is Information and Broadcasting Services minister, said the performance of the Patriotic Front (PF) Government in terms of infrastructure development could not be matched with any administration, going by the projects taking place aimed at transforming the country.
The minister said this in Kitwe on Sunday evening when he featured on Radio Icengelo’s special live programme.
Mr Kambwili, who was explaining the countrywide infrastructure development programme, said the Government had been prudent with the management of national resources.
He said the Government’s strategic focus of mooting its development agenda on infrastructure development such as roads was premised on the fact that this was an integral part of commerce which ultimately translated into the creation of wealth and jobs.
“There is no way that you can create wealth and jobs without infrastructure and as you know, infrastructure is the foundation on which any country can base its development agenda and this is exactly what this Government has done,” he said.
Mr Kambwili, who cited tarmac roads in townships as well as major road projects linking one district to the other being constructed across the country, said the performance by the Government in the last four years was visible for all to see.
“Today, Zambia has become a construction site because from independence, there has never been any government apart from UNIP that has changed the face of this country in terms of infrastructure development,” he said.
The minister took a swipe  at arm-chair critics, especially opposition political parties that had failed to appreciate the current global challenges such as the slump in prices for base metals, as well as power deficits and were blaming the Government for the economic challenges.
“The problem is that we have got a very unreasonable opposition which even when they know what is causing the current challenges, they want to blame that on Government,” he said.
Mr Kambwili said the Government had taken reasonable steps to mitigate the impact of most of the global challenges that had adversely affected the country’s economy.
He cited the mining sector where the Government’s swift intervention caused the prevention of unjustified job losses, naming Mopani Copper Mines where 8,000 miners had initially been earmarked for retrenchment but only 4,000 were laid off.
In the area of mitigating the problem of electricity deficit, Mr Kambwili said the Government was currently implementing 16 power generation projects which, once completed, were expected to increase the country’s power generation by 4,521.8 megawatts.
The minister also said the Government was working on diversification of the economy and had since put in place a stringent programme targeting the agriculture and manufacturing sectors.